Fix error handling issues

4 files changed, 236 insertions, 220 deletions

diff --git a/tools/lib/h5diff.c b/tools/lib/h5diff.c
index ab5d125..94cca58 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5diff.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5diff.c
@@ -393,8 +393,7 @@ trav_grp_objs(const char *path, const H5O_info_t *oinfo,
  *           Track and extra checkings while visiting all symbolic-links.
  *------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 static herr_t
-trav_grp_symlinks(const char *path, const H5L_info_t *linfo,
-                               void *udata)
+trav_grp_symlinks(const char *path, const H5L_info_t *linfo, void *udata)
 {
     herr_t         ret_value = 0;
     trav_info_t   *tinfo = (trav_info_t *)udata;
@@ -414,7 +413,7 @@ trav_grp_symlinks(const char *path, const H5L_info_t *linfo,
     switch(linfo->type) {
         case H5L_TYPE_SOFT:
             if((ret_value = H5tools_get_symlink_info(tinfo->fid, path, &lnk_info, opts->follow_links)) < 0) {
-                HGOTO_DONE(ret_value);
+                HGOTO_DONE(FAIL);
             }
             else if (ret_value == 0) {
              /* no dangling link option given and detect dangling link */
@@ -437,13 +436,13 @@ trav_grp_symlinks(const char *path, const H5L_info_t *linfo,
                          trav_grp_objs,trav_grp_symlinks, tinfo) < 0) {
                 parallel_print("Error: Could not get file contents\n");
                 opts->err_stat = 1;
-                HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Could not get file contents");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Could not get file contents");
             }
             break;
 
         case H5L_TYPE_EXTERNAL:
             if ((ret_value = H5tools_get_symlink_info(tinfo->fid, path, &lnk_info, opts->follow_links)) < 0) {
-                HGOTO_DONE(ret_value);
+                HGOTO_DONE(FAIL);
             }
             else if (ret_value == 0) {
             /* no dangling link option given and detect dangling link */
@@ -469,7 +468,7 @@ trav_grp_symlinks(const char *path, const H5L_info_t *linfo,
                             trav_grp_objs,trav_grp_symlinks, tinfo) < 0) {
                 parallel_print("Error: Could not get file contents\n");
                 opts->err_stat = 1;
-                HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Could not get file contents\n");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Could not get file contents\n");
             }
             break;
 
@@ -479,7 +478,7 @@ trav_grp_symlinks(const char *path, const H5L_info_t *linfo,
         default:
             parallel_print("Error: Invalid link type\n");
             opts->err_stat = 1;
-            HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Invalid link type");
+            HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Invalid link type");
             break;
     } /* end of switch */
 
@@ -552,7 +551,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
         HGOTO_DONE(0);
 
     opts->cmn_objs = 1; /* eliminate warning */
-    opts->err_stat = 1; /* initialize error status to FAIL */
+    opts->err_stat = 0; /* initialize error status */
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
     * open the files first; if they are not valid, no point in continuing
@@ -561,14 +560,14 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
     /* open file 1 */
     if((file1_id = h5tools_fopen(fname1, H5F_ACC_RDONLY, H5P_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL, (size_t)0)) < 0) {
         parallel_print("h5diff: <%s>: unable to open file\n", fname1);
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "<%s>: unable to open file\n", fname1);
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "<%s>: unable to open file\n", fname1);
     } /* end if */
 
 
     /* open file 2 */
     if((file2_id = h5tools_fopen(fname2, H5F_ACC_RDONLY, H5P_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL, (size_t)0)) < 0) {
         parallel_print("h5diff: <%s>: unable to open file\n", fname2);
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "<%s>: unable to open file\n", fname2);
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "<%s>: unable to open file\n", fname2);
     } /* end if */
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -586,11 +585,11 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
 #ifdef H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF
             /* Use the asprintf() routine, since it does what we're trying to do below */
             if(HDasprintf(&obj1fullname, "/%s", objname1) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
 #else /* H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF */
             /* (malloc 2 more for "/" and end-of-line) */
             if ((obj1fullname = (char*)HDmalloc(HDstrlen(objname1) + 2)) == NULL)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
 
             HDstrcpy(obj1fullname, "/");
             HDstrcat(obj1fullname, objname1);
@@ -604,11 +603,11 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
 #ifdef H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF
             /* Use the asprintf() routine, since it does what we're trying to do below */
             if(HDasprintf(&obj2fullname, "/%s", objname2) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
 #else /* H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF */
             /* (malloc 2 more for "/" and end-of-line) */
             if ((obj2fullname = (char*)HDmalloc(HDstrlen(objname2) + 2)) == NULL)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
             HDstrcpy(obj2fullname, "/");
             HDstrcat(obj2fullname, objname2);
 #endif /* H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF */
@@ -627,14 +626,12 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
             /* check if link itself exist */
             if(H5Lexists(file1_id, obj1fullname, H5P_DEFAULT) <= 0) {
                 parallel_print ("Object <%s> could not be found in <%s>\n", obj1fullname, fname1);
-                opts->err_stat = 1;
-                HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Object could not be found");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Object could not be found");
             }
             /* get info from link */
             if(H5Lget_info(file1_id, obj1fullname, &src_linfo1, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
                 parallel_print("Unable to get link info from <%s>\n", obj1fullname);
-                H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Unable to get link info\n");
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Lget_info failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Lget_info failed");
             }
 
             info1_lp = info1_obj;
@@ -650,8 +647,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
 
                 if(H5Oget_info_by_name(file1_id, obj1fullname, &oinfo1, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
                     parallel_print("Error: Could not get file contents\n");
-                    opts->err_stat = 1;
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Could not get file contents");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Could not get file contents");
                 }
                 obj1type = (h5trav_type_t)oinfo1.type;
                 trav_info_add(info1_obj, obj1fullname, obj1type);
@@ -680,13 +676,12 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
             /* check if link itself exist */
             if(H5Lexists(file2_id, obj2fullname, H5P_DEFAULT) <= 0) {
                 parallel_print ("Object <%s> could not be found in <%s>\n", obj2fullname, fname2);
-                opts->err_stat = 1;
-                HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Object could not be found");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Object could not be found");
             }
             /* get info from link */
             if(H5Lget_info(file2_id, obj2fullname, &src_linfo2, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
                 parallel_print("Unable to get link info from <%s>\n", obj2fullname);
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Lget_info failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Lget_info failed");
             }
 
             info2_lp = info2_obj;
@@ -702,8 +697,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
 
                 if(H5Oget_info_by_name(file2_id, obj2fullname, &oinfo2, H5P_DEFAULT) < 0) {
                     parallel_print("Error: Could not get file contents\n");
-                    opts->err_stat = 1;
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Could not get file contents");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Error: Could not get file contents");
                 }
                 obj2type = (h5trav_type_t)oinfo2.type;
                 trav_info_add(info2_obj, obj2fullname, obj2type);
@@ -731,7 +725,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
         obj2type = H5TRAV_TYPE_GROUP;
     }
 
-
+    h5diffdebug2("get any symbolic links info - errstat:%d\n", opts->err_stat);
     /* get any symbolic links info */
     l_ret1 = H5tools_get_symlink_info(file1_id, obj1fullname, &trg_linfo1, opts->follow_links);
     l_ret2 = H5tools_get_symlink_info(file2_id, obj2fullname, &trg_linfo2, opts->follow_links);
@@ -755,8 +749,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
                 /* treat dangling link as error */
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
                     parallel_print("Warning: <%s> is a dangling link.\n", obj1fullname);
-                opts->err_stat = 1;
-                HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "treat dangling link as error");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "treat dangling link as error");
             }
             else {
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
@@ -770,8 +763,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
         }
         else if(l_ret1 < 0) { /* fail */
             parallel_print ("Object <%s> could not be found in <%s>\n", obj1fullname, fname1);
-            opts->err_stat = 1;
-            HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Object could not be found");
+            HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Object could not be found");
         }
         else if(l_ret1 != 2) { /* symbolic link */
             obj1type = (h5trav_type_t)trg_linfo1.trg_type;
@@ -798,8 +790,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
                 /* treat dangling link as error */
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
                     parallel_print("Warning: <%s> is a dangling link.\n", obj2fullname);
-                opts->err_stat = 1;
-                HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "treat dangling link as error");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "treat dangling link as error");
             }
             else {
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
@@ -813,8 +804,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
         }
         else if(l_ret2 < 0) { /* fail */
             parallel_print ("Object <%s> could not be found in <%s>\n", obj2fullname, fname2);
-            opts->err_stat = 1;
-            HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Object could not be found");
+            HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Object could not be found");
         }
         else if(l_ret2 != 2) {  /* symbolic link */
             obj2type = (h5trav_type_t)trg_linfo2.trg_type;
@@ -841,7 +831,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
         h5difftrace("h5diff NOT (opts->m_verbose || opts->m_report)\n");
         /* if no danglink links */
         if (l_ret1 > 0 && l_ret2 > 0)
-            if (h5tools_is_obj_same(file1_id, obj1fullname, file2_id, obj2fullname)!=0)
+            if (h5tools_is_obj_same(file1_id, obj1fullname, file2_id, obj2fullname) != 0)
                 HGOTO_DONE(0);
     }
 
@@ -858,8 +848,7 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
         if(h5trav_visit(file1_id, obj1fullname, TRUE, TRUE,
                         trav_grp_objs, trav_grp_symlinks, info1_grp) < 0) {
             parallel_print("Error: Could not get file contents\n");
-            opts->err_stat = 1;
-            HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not get file contents");
+            HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not get file contents");
         }
         info1_lp = info1_grp;
 
@@ -873,11 +862,11 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
         if(h5trav_visit(file2_id, obj2fullname, TRUE, TRUE,
                         trav_grp_objs, trav_grp_symlinks, info2_grp) < 0) {
             parallel_print("Error: Could not get file contents\n");
-            opts->err_stat = 1;
-            HGOTO_ERROR(opts->err_stat, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not get file contents");
+            HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Could not get file contents");
        } /* end if */
         info2_lp = info2_grp;
     }
+    h5diffdebug2("groups traversed - errstat:%d\n", opts->err_stat);
 
 #ifdef H5_HAVE_PARALLEL
     if(g_Parallel) {
@@ -926,9 +915,9 @@ h5diff(const char *fname1,
                         file2_id, obj2fullname, info2_lp,
                         match_list, opts);
 
-    opts->err_stat = 0; /* success status */
-
 done:
+    opts->err_stat = opts->err_stat | ret_value;
+
 #ifdef H5_HAVE_PARALLEL
     if(g_Parallel)
         /* All done at this point, let tasks know that they won't be needed */
@@ -994,7 +983,7 @@ diff_match(hid_t file1_id, const char *grp1, trav_info_t *info1,
 {
     hsize_t      nfound = 0;
     unsigned     i;
-    int          ret_value = 0;
+    int          ret_value = opts->err_stat;
     const char  *grp1_path = "";
     const char  *grp2_path = "";
     char        *obj1_fullpath = NULL;
@@ -1056,16 +1045,17 @@ diff_match(hid_t file1_id, const char *grp1, trav_info_t *info1,
 #endif
 
     for(i = 0; i < table->nobjs; i++) {
+        h5diffdebug3("diff for common objects[%d] - errstat:%d\n", i, opts->err_stat);
         if(table->objs[i].flags[0] && table->objs[i].flags[1]) {
             /* make full path for obj1 */
 #ifdef H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF
             /* Use the asprintf() routine, since it does what we're trying to do below */
             if(HDasprintf(&obj1_fullpath, "%s%s", grp1_path, table->objs[i].name) < 0) {
-                HERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                HERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
             }
 #else /* H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF */
             if((obj1_fullpath = (char*)HDmalloc(HDstrlen(grp1_path) + HDstrlen(table->objs[i].name) + 1)) == NULL) {
-                HERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                HERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
             }
             else {
                 HDstrcpy(obj1_fullpath, grp1_path);
@@ -1078,11 +1068,11 @@ diff_match(hid_t file1_id, const char *grp1, trav_info_t *info1,
 #ifdef H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF
             /* Use the asprintf() routine, since it does what we're trying to do below */
             if(HDasprintf(&obj2_fullpath, "%s%s", grp2_path, table->objs[i].name) < 0) {
-                HERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                HERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
             }
 #else /* H5_HAVE_ASPRINTF */
             if((obj2_fullpath = (char*)HDmalloc(HDstrlen(grp2_path) + HDstrlen(table->objs[i].name) + 1)) == NULL) {
-                HERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
+                HERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "name buffer allocation failed");
             }
             else {
                 HDstrcpy(obj2_fullpath, grp2_path);
@@ -1267,7 +1257,7 @@ diff_match(hid_t file1_id, const char *grp1, trav_info_t *info1,
                 HDfree(obj2_fullpath);
         } /* end if */
     } /* end for */
-    h5difftrace("done with for loop\n");
+    h5diffdebug2("done with for loop - errstat:%d\n", opts->err_stat);
 
 #ifdef H5_HAVE_PARALLEL
     if(g_Parallel) {
@@ -1351,7 +1341,9 @@ diff_match(hid_t file1_id, const char *grp1, trav_info_t *info1,
 #endif /* H5_HAVE_PARALLEL */
 
 out:
-    /* free table */
+    opts->err_stat = opts->err_stat | ret_value;
+
+/* free table */
     if (table)
         trav_table_free(table);
     h5diffdebug2("diff_match finish:%d\n", nfound);
@@ -1381,7 +1373,8 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
               diff_opt_t * opts,
               diff_args_t *argdata)
 {
-    int           ret_value = 0;
+    int           ret_value = opts->err_stat;
+    int           status = -1;
     hid_t         dset1_id = -1;
     hid_t         dset2_id = -1;
     hid_t         type1_id = -1;
@@ -1400,9 +1393,6 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
 
     h5difftrace("diff start\n");
 
-    /*init error status */
-    opts->err_stat = 1;
-
     /*init link info struct */
     HDmemset(&linkinfo1, 0, sizeof(h5tool_link_info_t));
     HDmemset(&linkinfo2, 0, sizeof(h5tool_link_info_t));
@@ -1422,26 +1412,26 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
          */
 
         /* target object1 - get type and name */
-        if ((ret_value = H5tools_get_symlink_info(file1_id, path1, &linkinfo1, opts->follow_links)) < 0)
-            HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5tools_get_symlink_info failed");
+        if ((status = H5tools_get_symlink_info(file1_id, path1, &linkinfo1, opts->follow_links)) < 0)
+            HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5tools_get_symlink_info failed");
 
         /* dangling link */
-        if (ret_value == 0) {
+        if (status == 0) {
             if (opts->no_dangle_links) {
                 /* dangling link is error */
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
                     parallel_print("Warning: <%s> is a dangling link.\n", path1);
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "dangling link is error");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "dangling link is error");
             }
             else
                 is_dangle_link1 = TRUE;
         }
 
         /* target object2 - get type and name */
-        if ((ret_value = H5tools_get_symlink_info(file2_id, path2, &linkinfo2, opts->follow_links)) < 0)
-            HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5tools_get_symlink_info failed");
+        if ((status = H5tools_get_symlink_info(file2_id, path2, &linkinfo2, opts->follow_links)) < 0)
+            HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5tools_get_symlink_info failed");
         /* dangling link */
-        if (ret_value == 0) {
+        if (status == 0) {
             if (opts->no_dangle_links) {
                 /* dangling link is error */
                 if(opts->m_verbose)
@@ -1454,7 +1444,6 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
 
         /* found dangling link */
         if (is_dangle_link1 || is_dangle_link2) {
-            opts->err_stat = 0;
             HGOTO_DONE(0);
         }
 
@@ -1479,7 +1468,6 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
         /* TODO: will need to update non-comparable is different
          * opts->contents = 0;
          */
-        opts->err_stat = 0;
         HGOTO_DONE(0);
     }
     else /* now both object types are same */
@@ -1532,7 +1520,6 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
             } /* if(opts->m_verbose || opts->m_report) */
 
             /* exact same, so comparison is done */
-            opts->err_stat = 0;
             HGOTO_DONE(0);
         }
     }
@@ -1544,9 +1531,9 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
         */
         case H5TRAV_TYPE_DATASET:
             if((dset1_id = H5Dopen2(file1_id, path1, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dopen2 failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dopen2 failed");
             if((dset2_id = H5Dopen2(file2_id, path2, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dopen2 failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dopen2 failed");
             /* verbose (-v) and report (-r) mode */
             if(opts->m_verbose || opts->m_report) {
                 do_print_objname("dataset", path1, path2, opts);
@@ -1579,9 +1566,9 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
 
 
             if(H5Dclose(dset1_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dclose failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dclose failed");
             if(H5Dclose(dset2_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dclose failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dclose failed");
             break;
 
        /*----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1590,15 +1577,15 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
         */
         case H5TRAV_TYPE_NAMED_DATATYPE:
             if((type1_id = H5Topen2(file1_id, path1, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Topen2 failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Topen2 failed");
             if((type2_id = H5Topen2(file2_id, path2, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Topen2 failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Topen2 failed");
 
-            if((ret_value = H5Tequal(type1_id, type2_id)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tequal failed");
+            if((status = H5Tequal(type1_id, type2_id)) < 0)
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tequal failed");
 
             /* if H5Tequal is > 0 then the datatypes refer to the same datatype */
-            nfound = (ret_value > 0) ? 0 : 1;
+            nfound = (status > 0) ? 0 : 1;
 
             if(print_objname(opts, nfound))
                 do_print_objname("datatype", path1, path2, opts);
@@ -1617,9 +1604,9 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
                 nfound += diff_attr(type1_id, type2_id, path1, path2, opts);
 
             if(H5Tclose(type1_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose failed");
             if(H5Tclose(type2_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose failed");
             break;
 
        /*----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1635,9 +1622,9 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
                 print_found(nfound);
 
             if((grp1_id = H5Gopen2(file1_id, path1, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Gclose failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Gclose failed");
             if((grp2_id = H5Gopen2(file2_id, path2, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Gclose failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Gclose failed");
 
             /*-----------------------------------------------------------------
              * compare attributes
@@ -1649,9 +1636,9 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
                 nfound += diff_attr(grp1_id, grp2_id, path1, path2, opts);
 
             if(H5Gclose(grp1_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Gclose failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Gclose failed");
             if(H5Gclose(grp2_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Gclose failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Gclose failed");
             break;
 
 
@@ -1661,10 +1648,10 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
         */
         case H5TRAV_TYPE_LINK:
             {
-                ret_value = HDstrcmp(linkinfo1.trg_path, linkinfo2.trg_path);
+                status = HDstrcmp(linkinfo1.trg_path, linkinfo2.trg_path);
 
                 /* if the target link name is not same then the links are "different" */
-                nfound = (ret_value != 0) ? 1 : 0;
+                nfound = (status != 0) ? 1 : 0;
 
                 if(print_objname(opts, nfound))
                     do_print_objname("link", path1, path2, opts);
@@ -1686,16 +1673,16 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
                 if(linkinfo1.linfo.type == H5L_TYPE_EXTERNAL && linkinfo2.linfo.type == H5L_TYPE_EXTERNAL) {
                     /* If the buffers are the same size, compare them */
                     if(linkinfo1.linfo.u.val_size == linkinfo2.linfo.u.val_size) {
-                        ret_value = HDmemcmp(linkinfo1.trg_path, linkinfo2.trg_path, linkinfo1.linfo.u.val_size);
+                        status = HDmemcmp(linkinfo1.trg_path, linkinfo2.trg_path, linkinfo1.linfo.u.val_size);
                     }
                     else
-                        ret_value = 1;
+                        status = 1;
 
                     /* if "linkinfo1.trg_path" != "linkinfo2.trg_path" then the links
                      * are "different" extlinkinfo#.path is combination string of
                      * file_name and obj_name
                      */
-                    nfound = (ret_value != 0) ? 1 : 0;
+                    nfound = (status != 0) ? 1 : 0;
 
                     if(print_objname(opts, nfound))
                         do_print_objname("external link", path1, path2, opts);
@@ -1734,9 +1721,9 @@ diff(hid_t file1_id,
             break;
      }
 
-    opts->err_stat = 0;
-
 done:
+    opts->err_stat = opts->err_stat | ret_value;
+
     /*-----------------------------------
      * handle dangling link(s)
      */
@@ -1782,7 +1769,7 @@ done:
         /* enable error reporting */
     } H5E_END_TRY;
 
-    h5diffdebug2("diff finish:%d\n", nfound);
+    h5diffdebug3("diff finish:%d - errstat:%d\n", nfound, opts->err_stat);
 
     return nfound;
 }
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5diff_array.c b/tools/lib/h5diff_array.c
index 5d77de3..54b9109 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5diff_array.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5diff_array.c
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ hsize_t diff_array(
     mcomp_t         members;
     H5T_class_t     type_class;
 
-    h5difftrace("diff_array start\n");
+    h5diffdebug2("diff_array start - errstat:%d\n", opts->err_stat);
     /* get the size. */
     size = H5Tget_size(m_type);
     type_class = H5Tget_class(m_type);
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ hsize_t diff_array(
         } /* i */
         close_member_types(&members);
     } /* switch */
-    h5diffdebug2("diff_array finish:%d\n", nfound);
+    h5diffdebug3("diff_array finish:%d - errstat:%d\n", nfound, opts->err_stat);
 
     return nfound;
 }
@@ -447,13 +447,11 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
     hbool_t         iszero1;
     hbool_t         iszero2;
     hsize_t         nfound = 0;    /* differences found */
-    hsize_t         ret_value = 0;
+    hsize_t         ret_value = opts->err_stat;
     double          per;
     hbool_t         both_zero;
 
     h5difftrace("diff_datum start\n");
-    /* default error sttaus */
-    opts->err_stat = 1;
 
     type_size = H5Tget_size(m_type);
     type_class = H5Tget_class(m_type);
@@ -467,14 +465,14 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             type_class != H5T_STRING &&
             type_class != H5T_VLEN &&
             HDmemcmp(mem1, mem2, type_size) == 0)
-        HGOTO_DONE(0);
+        HGOTO_DONE(opts->err_stat);
 
     switch (H5Tget_class(m_type)) {
     case H5T_NO_CLASS:
     case H5T_TIME:
     case H5T_NCLASSES:
     default:
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Invalid type class");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Invalid type class");
         break;
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -725,7 +723,8 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
         iszero1 = all_zero(_mem1, H5Tget_size(m_type));
         iszero2 = all_zero(_mem2, H5Tget_size(m_type));
         if (iszero1 != iszero2) {
-            HGOTO_DONE (1);
+            nfound++;
+            HGOTO_DONE (opts->err_stat);
         }
         else if (!iszero1 && !iszero2) {
             /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -740,14 +739,22 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
                 hid_t region1_id = -1;
                 hid_t region2_id = -1;
 
-                if ((obj1_id = H5Rdereference2(container1_id, H5P_DEFAULT, H5R_DATASET_REGION, _mem1)) < 0)
-                    HERROR(H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rdereference2 object 1 failed");
-                if ((obj2_id = H5Rdereference2(container2_id, H5P_DEFAULT, H5R_DATASET_REGION, _mem2)) < 0)
-                    HERROR(H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rdereference2 object 2 failed");
-                if ((region1_id = H5Rget_region(container1_id, H5R_DATASET_REGION, _mem1)) < 0)
-                    HERROR(H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rget_region object 1 failed");
-                if ((region2_id = H5Rget_region(container2_id, H5R_DATASET_REGION, _mem2)) < 0)
-                    HERROR(H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rget_region object 2 failed");
+                if ((obj1_id = H5Rdereference2(container1_id, H5P_DEFAULT, H5R_DATASET_REGION, _mem1)) < 0) {
+                    opts->err_stat = 1;
+                    H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rdereference2 object 1 failed");
+                }
+                if ((obj2_id = H5Rdereference2(container2_id, H5P_DEFAULT, H5R_DATASET_REGION, _mem2)) < 0) {
+                    opts->err_stat = 1;
+                    H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rdereference2 object 2 failed");
+                }
+                if ((region1_id = H5Rget_region(container1_id, H5R_DATASET_REGION, _mem1)) < 0) {
+                    opts->err_stat = 1;
+                    H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rget_region object 1 failed");
+                }
+                if ((region2_id = H5Rget_region(container2_id, H5R_DATASET_REGION, _mem2)) < 0) {
+                    opts->err_stat = 1;
+                    H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rget_region object 2 failed");
+                }
 
                 nfound = diff_region(obj1_id, obj2_id, region1_id, region2_id, opts);
 
@@ -766,23 +773,31 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
                 H5O_type_t obj1_type;
                 H5O_type_t obj2_type;
 
-                if (H5Rget_obj_type2(container1_id, H5R_OBJECT, _mem1, &obj1_type) < 0)
-                    HERROR(H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rget_obj_type2 object 1 failed");
-                if (H5Rget_obj_type2(container2_id, H5R_OBJECT, _mem2, &obj2_type) < 0)
-                    HERROR(H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rget_obj_type2 object 2 failed");
+                if (H5Rget_obj_type2(container1_id, H5R_OBJECT, _mem1, &obj1_type) < 0) {
+                    opts->err_stat = 1;
+                    H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rget_obj_type2 object 1 failed");
+                }
+                if (H5Rget_obj_type2(container2_id, H5R_OBJECT, _mem2, &obj2_type) < 0) {
+                    opts->err_stat = 1;
+                    H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rget_obj_type2 object 2 failed");
+                }
 
                 /* check object type */
                 if (ret_value >= 0)
                     if (obj1_type != obj2_type) {
                         parallel_print("Different object types referenced: <%s> and <%s>", obj1, obj2);
                         opts->not_cmp = 1;
-                        HGOTO_DONE (0);
+                        HGOTO_DONE (opts->err_stat);
                     }
 
-                if ((obj1_id = H5Rdereference2(container1_id, H5P_DEFAULT, H5R_OBJECT, _mem1)) < 0)
-                    HERROR(H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rdereference2 object 1 failed");
-                if ((obj2_id = H5Rdereference2(container2_id, H5P_DEFAULT, H5R_OBJECT, _mem2)) < 0)
-                    HERROR(H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rdereference2 object 2 failed");
+                if ((obj1_id = H5Rdereference2(container1_id, H5P_DEFAULT, H5R_OBJECT, _mem1)) < 0) {
+                    opts->err_stat = 1;
+                    H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rdereference2 object 1 failed");
+                }
+                if ((obj2_id = H5Rdereference2(container2_id, H5P_DEFAULT, H5R_OBJECT, _mem2)) < 0) {
+                    opts->err_stat = 1;
+                    H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Rdereference2 object 2 failed");
+                }
 
                 /* compare */
                 if (obj1_type == H5O_TYPE_DATASET)
@@ -839,7 +854,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             char temp2_char;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(char))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not char size");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not char size");
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_char, mem1, sizeof(char));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_char, mem2, sizeof(char));
             /* -d and !-p */
@@ -914,7 +929,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             unsigned char temp2_uchar;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(unsigned char))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not unsigned char size");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not unsigned char size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_uchar, mem1, sizeof(unsigned char));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_uchar, mem2, sizeof(unsigned char));
@@ -990,7 +1005,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             short temp2_short;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(short))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not short size");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not short size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_short, mem1, sizeof(short));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_short, mem2, sizeof(short));
@@ -1066,7 +1081,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             unsigned short temp2_ushort;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(unsigned short))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not unsigned short size");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not unsigned short size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_ushort, mem1, sizeof(unsigned short));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_ushort, mem2, sizeof(unsigned short));
@@ -1142,7 +1157,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             int temp2_int;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(int))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not int size");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not int size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_int, mem1, sizeof(int));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_int, mem2, sizeof(int));
@@ -1218,7 +1233,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             unsigned int temp2_uint;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(unsigned int))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not unsigned int size");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not unsigned int size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_uint, mem1, sizeof(unsigned int));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_uint, mem2, sizeof(unsigned int));
@@ -1294,7 +1309,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             long temp2_long;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(long))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not long size");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not long size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_long, mem1, sizeof(long));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_long, mem2, sizeof(long));
@@ -1370,7 +1385,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             unsigned long temp2_ulong;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(unsigned long))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not unsigned long size");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not unsigned long size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_ulong, mem1, sizeof(unsigned long));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_ulong, mem2, sizeof(unsigned long));
@@ -1454,7 +1469,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             hbool_t isnan2 = FALSE;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(float))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not float size");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not float size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_float, mem1, sizeof(float));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_float, mem2, sizeof(float));
@@ -1613,7 +1628,7 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             hbool_t isnan2 = FALSE;
 
             if(type_size != sizeof(double))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not double size");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not double size");
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_double, mem1, sizeof(double));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_double, mem2, sizeof(double));
@@ -1771,8 +1786,9 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
             hbool_t     isnan1 = FALSE;
             hbool_t     isnan2 = FALSE;
 
-            if(type_size != sizeof(long double))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not long double size");
+            if(type_size != sizeof(long double)) {
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Type size is not long double size");
+            }
 
             HDmemcpy(&temp1_double, mem1, sizeof(long double));
             HDmemcpy(&temp2_double, mem2, sizeof(long double));
@@ -1922,10 +1938,11 @@ static hsize_t diff_datum(
         break; /* H5T_FLOAT class */
 
     } /* switch */
-    opts->err_stat = 0;
 
 done:
-    h5diffdebug2("diff_datum finish:%d\n", nfound);
+    opts->err_stat = opts->err_stat | ret_value;
+
+    h5diffdebug3("diff_datum finish:%d - errstat:%d\n", nfound, opts->err_stat);
 
     return nfound;
 }
@@ -2003,7 +2020,7 @@ void print_points(int i, hsize_t *ptdata, int ndims) {
 static hsize_t diff_region(hid_t obj1_id, hid_t obj2_id, hid_t region1_id, hid_t region2_id, diff_opt_t *opts)
 
 {
-    hsize_t  ret_value = 0; /*no need to LEAVE() on ERROR: HERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED) */
+    hsize_t  ret_value = 0;
     hssize_t nblocks1, npoints1;
     hssize_t nblocks2, npoints2;
     hsize_t  alloc_size;
@@ -2046,14 +2063,16 @@ static hsize_t diff_region(hid_t obj1_id, hid_t obj2_id, hid_t region1_id, hid_t
         HDassert(alloc_size == (hsize_t)((size_t )alloc_size)); /*check for overflow*/
 
         if((ptdata1 = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc((size_t )alloc_size)) == NULL) {
-            HERROR(H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Buffer allocation failed");
+            opts->err_stat = 1;
+            H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Buffer allocation failed");
         }
         else {
             H5_CHECK_OVERFLOW(nblocks1, hssize_t, hsize_t);
             H5Sget_select_hyper_blocklist(region1_id, (hsize_t) 0, (hsize_t) nblocks1, ptdata1);
 
             if((ptdata2 = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc((size_t )alloc_size)) == NULL) {
-                HERROR(H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Buffer allocation failed");
+                opts->err_stat = 1;
+                H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Buffer allocation failed");
             }
             else {
                 H5_CHECK_OVERFLOW(nblocks2, hssize_t, hsize_t);
@@ -2107,14 +2126,16 @@ static hsize_t diff_region(hid_t obj1_id, hid_t obj2_id, hid_t region1_id, hid_t
         HDassert(alloc_size == (hsize_t)((size_t )alloc_size)); /*check for overflow*/
 
         if((ptdata1 = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc((size_t )alloc_size)) == NULL) {
-            HERROR(H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Buffer allocation failed");
+            opts->err_stat = 1;
+            H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Buffer allocation failed");
         }
         else {
             H5_CHECK_OVERFLOW(npoints1, hssize_t, hsize_t);
             H5Sget_select_elem_pointlist(region1_id, (hsize_t) 0, (hsize_t) npoints1, ptdata1);
 
             if((ptdata2 = (hsize_t *) HDmalloc((size_t )alloc_size)) == NULL) {
-                HERROR(H5E_tools_g, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Buffer allocation failed");
+                opts->err_stat = 1;
+                H5TOOLS_INFO(H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Buffer allocation failed");
             }
             else {
                 H5_CHECK_OVERFLOW(npoints1, hssize_t, hsize_t);
@@ -4380,7 +4401,7 @@ static hbool_t equal_float(float value, float expected, diff_opt_t *opts) {
         return TRUE;
 
     if (opts->use_system_epsilon)
-        if ( ABS( (value-expected) ) < FLT_EPSILON)
+        if (ABS( (value-expected) ) < FLT_EPSILON)
             return TRUE;
 
     h5difftrace("equal_float finish\n");
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5diff_attr.c b/tools/lib/h5diff_attr.c
index d671449..6019738 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5diff_attr.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5diff_attr.c
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ static void table_attr_mark_exist(unsigned *exist, char *name, table_attrs_t *ta
  *------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 static herr_t build_match_list_attrs(hid_t loc1_id, hid_t loc2_id, table_attrs_t ** table_out,  diff_opt_t *opts)
 {
-    int        ret_value = 0;     /*no need to LEAVE() on ERROR: HERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED) */
+    int        ret_value = 0;
     H5O_info_t oinfo1, oinfo2;    /* Object info */
     hid_t      attr1_id = -1;     /* attr ID */
     hid_t      attr2_id = -1;     /* attr ID */
@@ -163,12 +163,13 @@ static herr_t build_match_list_attrs(hid_t loc1_id, hid_t loc2_id, table_attrs_t
     if (table_lp == NULL)
         HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "Table allocation failed");
 
-    h5diffdebug3("build_match_list_attrs: %ld - %ld\n", curr1 < oinfo1.num_attrs, curr2 < oinfo2.num_attrs);
-
     /*--------------------------------------------------
      * build the list
      */
     while(curr1 < oinfo1.num_attrs && curr2 < oinfo2.num_attrs) {
+        h5diffdebug3("build_match_list_attrs 1: %ld - %ld\n", curr1, oinfo1.num_attrs);
+        h5diffdebug3("build_match_list_attrs 2: %ld - %ld\n", curr2, oinfo2.num_attrs);
+
         /*------------------
         * open attribute1 */
         if((attr1_id = H5Aopen_by_idx(loc1_id, ".", H5_INDEX_NAME, H5_ITER_INC, (hsize_t)curr1, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
@@ -221,6 +222,8 @@ static herr_t build_match_list_attrs(hid_t loc1_id, hid_t loc2_id, table_attrs_t
     infile[0] = 1;
     infile[1] = 0;
     while(curr1 < oinfo1.num_attrs) {
+        h5diffdebug3("build_match_list_attrs 1: %ld - %ld\n", curr1, oinfo1.num_attrs);
+
         /*------------------
         * open attribute1 */
         if((attr1_id = H5Aopen_by_idx(loc1_id, ".", H5_INDEX_NAME, H5_ITER_INC, (hsize_t)curr1, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
@@ -243,6 +246,7 @@ static herr_t build_match_list_attrs(hid_t loc1_id, hid_t loc2_id, table_attrs_t
     infile[0] = 0;
     infile[1] = 1;
     while(curr2 < oinfo2.num_attrs) {
+        h5diffdebug3("build_match_list_attrs 2: %ld - %ld\n", curr2, oinfo2.num_attrs);
         /*------------------
         * open attribute2 */
         if((attr2_id = H5Aopen_by_idx(loc2_id, ".", H5_INDEX_NAME, H5_ITER_INC, (hsize_t)curr2, H5P_DEFAULT, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
@@ -290,7 +294,7 @@ done:
         H5Aclose(attr2_id);
     } H5E_END_TRY;
 
-    h5difftrace("build_match_list_attrs end\n");
+    h5diffdebug2("build_match_list_attrs end - errstat:%d\n", opts->err_stat);
 
     return ret_value;
 }
@@ -314,7 +318,7 @@ hsize_t diff_attr(hid_t loc1_id,
                   const char *path2,
                   diff_opt_t *opts)
 {
-    int        ret_value = 0;     /*no need to LEAVE() on ERROR: HERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED) */
+    int        ret_value = opts->err_stat;
     hid_t      attr1_id = -1;     /* attr ID */
     hid_t      attr2_id = -1;     /* attr ID */
     hid_t      space1_id = -1;    /* space ID */
@@ -348,11 +352,10 @@ hsize_t diff_attr(hid_t loc1_id,
     table_attrs_t *match_list_attrs = NULL;
     h5difftrace("diff_attr start\n");
 
-    /* Initialize error status */
-    opts->err_stat = 1;
-
-    if(build_match_list_attrs(loc1_id, loc2_id, &match_list_attrs, opts) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "build_match_list_attrs failed");
+    if(build_match_list_attrs(loc1_id, loc2_id, &match_list_attrs, opts) < 0) {
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "build_match_list_attrs failed");
+    }
+    h5diffdebug2("build_match_list_attrs - errstat:%d\n", opts->err_stat);
 
     /* if detect any unique extra attr */
     if(match_list_attrs->nattrs_only1 || match_list_attrs->nattrs_only2) {
@@ -360,8 +363,10 @@ hsize_t diff_attr(hid_t loc1_id,
         /* exit will be 1 */
         opts->contents = 0;
     }
+    h5diffdebug2("match_list_attrs info - errstat:%d\n", opts->err_stat);
 
     for(u = 0; u < (unsigned)match_list_attrs->nattrs; u++) {
+        h5diffdebug3("match_list_attrs loop[%d] - errstat:%d\n", u, opts->err_stat);
         if((match_list_attrs->attrs[u].exist[0]) && (match_list_attrs->attrs[u].exist[1])) {
             name1 = name2 = match_list_attrs->attrs[u].name;
             h5diffdebug2("diff_attr name - %s\n", name1);
@@ -369,20 +374,20 @@ hsize_t diff_attr(hid_t loc1_id,
             /*--------------
             * attribute 1 */
             if((attr1_id = H5Aopen(loc1_id, name1, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aopen first attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aopen first attribute failed");
 
             /*--------------
             * attribute 2 */
             if((attr2_id = H5Aopen(loc2_id, name2, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aopen second attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aopen second attribute failed");
 
             h5difftrace("diff_attr got attributes\n");
             /* get the datatypes  */
             if((ftype1_id = H5Aget_type(attr1_id)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
             vstrtype1 = H5Tis_variable_str(ftype1_id);
             if((ftype2_id = H5Aget_type(attr2_id)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
             vstrtype2 = H5Tis_variable_str(ftype2_id);
 
             /* no compare if either one but not both are variable string type */
@@ -392,37 +397,37 @@ hsize_t diff_attr(hid_t loc1_id,
                             path1, name1, path2, name2);
                 opts->not_cmp = 1;
                 if (H5Tclose(ftype1_id) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose first attribute ftype failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose first attribute ftype failed");
                 if (H5Tclose(ftype2_id) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose second attribute ftype failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose second attribute ftype failed");
                 if (H5Aclose(attr1_id) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aclose first attribute failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aclose first attribute failed");
                 if (H5Aclose(attr2_id) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aclose second attribute failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aclose second attribute failed");
 
                 continue;
             }
 
             if((mtype1_id = H5Tget_native_type(ftype1_id, H5T_DIR_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_native_type first attribute ftype failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_native_type first attribute ftype failed");
             if((mtype2_id = H5Tget_native_type(ftype2_id, H5T_DIR_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_native_type second attribute ftype failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_native_type second attribute ftype failed");
             if((msize1 = H5Tget_size(mtype1_id)) == 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_size first attribute mtype failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_size first attribute mtype failed");
             if((msize2 = H5Tget_size(mtype2_id)) == 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_size second attribute mtype failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_size second attribute mtype failed");
 
             /* get the dataspace   */
             if((space1_id = H5Aget_space(attr1_id)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_space first attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_space first attribute failed");
             if((space2_id = H5Aget_space(attr2_id)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_space second attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_space second attribute failed");
 
             /* get dimensions  */
             if((rank1 = H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(space1_id, dims1, NULL)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims first attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims first attribute failed");
             if((rank2 = H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(space2_id, dims2, NULL)) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims second attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims second attribute failed");
 
             /*----------------------------------------------------------------------
             * check for comparable TYPE and SPACE
@@ -434,21 +439,21 @@ hsize_t diff_attr(hid_t loc1_id,
             if(diff_can_type(ftype1_id, ftype2_id, rank1, rank2, dims1, dims2,
                     dims1, dims2, name1, name2, opts, 0) != 1) {
                 if(H5Tclose(ftype1_id) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose first attribute ftype failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose first attribute ftype failed");
                 if(H5Tclose(ftype2_id) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose second attribute ftype failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose second attribute ftype failed");
                 if(H5Sclose(space1_id) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sclose first attribute failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sclose first attribute failed");
                 if(H5Sclose(space2_id) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sclose second attribute failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sclose second attribute failed");
                 if(H5Aclose(attr1_id) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aclose first attribute failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aclose first attribute failed");
                 if(H5Aclose(attr2_id) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aclose second attribute failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aclose second attribute failed");
                 if(H5Tclose(mtype1_id) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose first attribute mtype failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose first attribute mtype failed");
                 if(H5Tclose(mtype2_id) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose second attribute mtype failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose second attribute mtype failed");
 
                 continue;
             }
@@ -459,7 +464,7 @@ hsize_t diff_attr(hid_t loc1_id,
             */
             if(FAIL == match_up_memsize(ftype1_id, ftype2_id, &mtype1_id,
                             &mtype2_id, &msize1, &msize2))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "match_up_memsize failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "match_up_memsize failed");
 
             /*---------------------------------------------------------------------
             * read
@@ -473,18 +478,18 @@ hsize_t diff_attr(hid_t loc1_id,
             buf2 = (void *)HDcalloc((size_t)(nelmts1), msize2);
             if(buf1 == NULL || buf2 == NULL) {
                 parallel_print("cannot read into memory\n");
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "buffer allocation failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "buffer allocation failed");
             }
             if(H5Aread(attr1_id, mtype1_id, buf1) < 0) {
                 parallel_print("Failed reading attribute1 %s/%s\n", path1, name1);
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
             }
             else
                 buf1hasdata = TRUE;
 
             if(H5Aread(attr2_id, mtype2_id, buf2) < 0) {
                 parallel_print("Failed reading attribute2 %s/%s\n", path2, name2);
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
             }
             else
                 buf2hasdata = TRUE;
@@ -542,29 +547,29 @@ hsize_t diff_attr(hid_t loc1_id,
             buf2 = NULL;
 
             if(H5Tclose(ftype1_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
             if(H5Tclose(ftype2_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
             if(H5Sclose(space1_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
             if(H5Sclose(space2_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
             if(H5Aclose(attr1_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type first attribute failed");
             if(H5Aclose(attr2_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Aget_type second attribute failed");
             if(H5Tclose(mtype1_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose first attribute mtype failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose first attribute mtype failed");
             if(H5Tclose(mtype2_id) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose second attribute mtype failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tclose second attribute mtype failed");
 
             nfound_total += nfound;
         }
     } /* u */
 
-    opts->err_stat = 0;
-
 done:
+    opts->err_stat = opts->err_stat | ret_value;
+
     H5E_BEGIN_TRY {
         if(buf1) {
             if(buf1hasdata && TRUE == h5tools_detect_vlen(mtype1_id))
@@ -589,7 +594,7 @@ done:
         H5Aclose(attr2_id);
     } H5E_END_TRY;
 
-    h5difftrace("diff_attr end\n");
+    h5diffdebug2("diff_attr end - errstat:%d\n", opts->err_stat);
     return nfound_total;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/lib/h5diff_dset.c b/tools/lib/h5diff_dset.c
index 768caff..bea008c 100644
--- a/tools/lib/h5diff_dset.c
+++ b/tools/lib/h5diff_dset.c
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ hsize_t diff_dataset(hid_t file1_id,
                      const char *obj2_name,
                      diff_opt_t *opts)
 {
-    int     ret_value = 0; /*no need to LEAVE() on ERROR: HERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED) */
+    int     ret_value = opts->err_stat;
+    int     status = -1;
     hid_t   did1 = -1;
     hid_t   did2 = -1;
     hid_t   dcpl1 = -1;
@@ -41,7 +42,6 @@ hsize_t diff_dataset(hid_t file1_id,
     hsize_t nfound = 0;
 
     h5difftrace("diff_dataset start\n");
-    opts->err_stat = 1;
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * open the handles
      *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -49,17 +49,17 @@ hsize_t diff_dataset(hid_t file1_id,
     /* Open the datasets */
     if((did1 = H5Dopen2(file1_id, obj1_name, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0) {
         parallel_print("Cannot open dataset <%s>\n", obj1_name);
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dopen2 first dataset failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dopen2 first dataset failed");
     }
     if((did2 = H5Dopen2(file2_id, obj2_name, H5P_DEFAULT)) < 0) {
         parallel_print("Cannot open dataset <%s>\n", obj2_name);
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dopen2 second dataset failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dopen2 second dataset failed");
     }
 
     if((dcpl1 = H5Dget_create_plist(did1)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_create_plist first dataset failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_create_plist first dataset failed");
     if((dcpl2 = H5Dget_create_plist(did2)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_create_plist second dataset failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_create_plist second dataset failed");
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * check if the dataset creation property list has filters that
@@ -68,18 +68,18 @@ hsize_t diff_dataset(hid_t file1_id,
      * 2) the internal filters might be turned off
      *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      */
-    if ((ret_value = h5tools_canreadf((opts->m_verbose ? obj1_name : NULL), dcpl1) == 1) &&
-            (ret_value = h5tools_canreadf((opts->m_verbose ? obj2_name : NULL), dcpl2) == 1))
+    if ((status = h5tools_canreadf((opts->m_verbose ? obj1_name : NULL), dcpl1) == 1) &&
+            (status = h5tools_canreadf((opts->m_verbose ? obj2_name : NULL), dcpl2) == 1))
         nfound = diff_datasetid(did1, did2, obj1_name, obj2_name, opts);
-    else if (ret_value < 0) {
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "h5tools_canreadf failed");
+    else if (status < 0) {
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "h5tools_canreadf failed");
     }
     else
         opts->not_cmp = 1;
 
-    opts->err_stat = 0;
-
 done:
+    opts->err_stat = opts->err_stat | ret_value;
+
     /* disable error reporting */
     H5E_BEGIN_TRY {
         H5Pclose(dcpl1);
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ done:
         /* enable error reporting */
     } H5E_END_TRY;
 
-    h5diffdebug2("diff_dataset finish:%d\n", nfound);
+    h5diffdebug3("diff_dataset finish:%d - errstat:%d\n", nfound, opts->err_stat);
     return nfound;
 }
 
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
                        const char *obj2_name,
                        diff_opt_t *opts)
 {
-    int        ret_value = 0;            /* no need to LEAVE() on ERROR: HERR_INIT(int, SUCCEED) */
+    int        ret_value = opts->err_stat;
     hid_t      sid1 = -1;
     hid_t      sid2 = -1;
     hid_t      f_tid1 = -1;
@@ -192,27 +192,26 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
     int        i;
     unsigned int  vl_data = 0;          /*contains VL datatypes */
 
-    opts->err_stat = 1;
     h5difftrace("diff_datasetid start\n");
     /* Get the dataspace handle */
     if((sid1 = H5Dget_space(did1)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_space failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_space failed");
 
     /* Get rank */
     if((rank1 = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(sid1)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
 
     /* Get the dataspace handle */
     if((sid2 = H5Dget_space(did2)) < 0 )
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_space failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_space failed");
 
     /* Get rank */
     if((rank2 = H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims(sid2)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_ndims failed");
 
     /* Get dimensions */
     if(H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(sid1, dims1, maxdim1) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sget_simple_extent_dims failed");
 
     /* Get dimensions */
     if(H5Sget_simple_extent_dims(sid2, dims2, maxdim2) < 0)
@@ -226,25 +225,25 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
 
     /* Get the data type */
     if((f_tid1 = H5Dget_type(did1)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_type failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_type failed");
 
     /* Get the data type */
     if((f_tid2 = H5Dget_type(did2)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_type failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_type failed");
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * get the storage layout type
      *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      */
     if((dcpl1 = H5Dget_create_plist(did1)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_create_plist failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_create_plist failed");
     if((dcpl2 = H5Dget_create_plist(did2)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_create_plist failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dget_create_plist failed");
 
     if((stl1 = H5Pget_layout(dcpl1)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Pget_layout failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Pget_layout failed");
     if((stl2 = H5Pget_layout(dcpl2)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Pget_layout failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Pget_layout failed");
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * check for empty datasets
@@ -278,6 +277,7 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
             obj1_name, obj2_name,
             opts, 0) != 1)
         can_compare = 0;
+    h5diffdebug2("diff_can_type - errstat:%d\n", opts->err_stat);
 
     /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * memory type and sizes
@@ -285,10 +285,10 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
      */
     h5difftrace("check for memory type and sizes\n");
     if((m_tid1 = H5Tget_native_type(f_tid1, H5T_DIR_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_native_type failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_native_type failed");
 
     if((m_tid2 = H5Tget_native_type(f_tid2, H5T_DIR_DEFAULT)) < 0)
-        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_native_type failed");
+        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Tget_native_type failed");
 
     m_size1 = H5Tget_size(m_tid1);
     m_size2 = H5Tget_size(m_tid2);
@@ -319,6 +319,7 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
      */
     if(TRUE == h5tools_detect_vlen(m_tid1))
         vl_data = TRUE;
+    h5diffdebug2("h5tools_detect_vlen - errstat:%d\n", opts->err_stat);
 
     /*------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * only attempt to compare if possible
@@ -351,7 +352,7 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
             if (FAIL == match_up_memsize (f_tid1, f_tid2,
                                         &m_tid1, &m_tid2,
                                         &m_size1, &m_size2))
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "match_up_memsize failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "match_up_memsize failed");
             h5diffdebug3("m_size: %ld - %ld\n", m_size1, m_size2);
             dadims = dims1;
             dam_size = m_size1;
@@ -397,10 +398,10 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
         if(buf1 != NULL && buf2 != NULL) {
             h5difftrace("buf1 != NULL && buf2 != NULL\n");
             if(H5Dread(did1, m_tid1, H5S_ALL, H5S_ALL, H5P_DEFAULT, buf1) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dread failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dread failed");
             h5difftrace("H5Dread did2\n");
             if(H5Dread(did2, m_tid2, H5S_ALL, H5S_ALL, H5P_DEFAULT, buf2) < 0)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dread failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dread failed");
 
             /* array diff */
             nfound = diff_array(buf1, buf2, danelmts, (hsize_t)0, rank1, dadims,
@@ -463,9 +464,9 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
              * E.g., sm_space.
              */
             if((sm_buf1 = HDmalloc((size_t)sm_nbytes)) == NULL)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "HDmalloc failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "HDmalloc failed");
             if((sm_buf2 = HDmalloc((size_t)sm_nbytes)) == NULL)
-                HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "HDmalloc failed");
+                HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "HDmalloc failed");
 
             sm_nelmts = sm_nbytes / p_type_nbytes;
             sm_space = H5Screate_simple(1, &sm_nelmts, NULL);
@@ -482,19 +483,19 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
                         hs_nelmts *= hs_size[i];
                     } /* end for */
                     if(H5Sselect_hyperslab(sid1, H5S_SELECT_SET, hs_offset, NULL, hs_size, NULL) < 0)
-                        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
+                        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
                     if(H5Sselect_hyperslab(sid2, H5S_SELECT_SET, hs_offset, NULL, hs_size, NULL) < 0)
-                        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
+                        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
                     if(H5Sselect_hyperslab(sm_space, H5S_SELECT_SET, zero, NULL, &hs_nelmts, NULL) < 0)
-                        HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
+                        HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Sselect_hyperslab failed");
                 } /* end if */
                 else
                     hs_nelmts = 1;
 
                 if(H5Dread(did1, m_tid1, sm_space, sid1, H5P_DEFAULT, sm_buf1) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dread failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dread failed");
                 if(H5Dread(did2, m_tid2, sm_space, sid2, H5P_DEFAULT, sm_buf2) < 0)
-                    HGOTO_ERROR(FAIL, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dread failed");
+                    HGOTO_ERROR(1, H5E_tools_min_id_g, "H5Dread failed");
 
                 /* get array differences. in the case of hyperslab read, increment the number of differences
                 found in each hyperslab and pass the position at the beginning for printing */
@@ -534,11 +535,10 @@ hsize_t diff_datasetid(hid_t did1,
      * close
      *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      */
-    h5difftrace("reclaim any VL memory\n");
+    h5diffdebug2("reclaim any VL memory - errstat:%d\n", opts->err_stat);
 
 done:
-
-    opts->err_stat = ret_value;
+    opts->err_stat = opts->err_stat | ret_value;
 
     /* free */
     if(buf1 != NULL) {
@@ -802,6 +802,9 @@ int diff_can_type(hid_t       f_tid1, /* file data type */
         }
     }
 done:
+    if (ret_value < 0)
+        opts->err_stat = 1;
+
     h5diffdebug2("diff_can_type end - %d\n", ret_value);
     return ret_value;
 }